Targets ! Goals in DD now.?
 

Ok we are now 1/2 thru the race season with 3 gone and 3 more to go................

Have your Targets ,goals changed now that we have all had a taste of racing.?......what are your expectations at Donny and for the end of the season now.?

IS it all that you expected...have you had your eyes opened to the competative side of racing now..?


Phil

I dunno Phil, it all went a bit pete tong at Snet.
It seems I started at a half decent level at cadwell and I've just stayed there while others (you!) have caught up and breezed past... I need to work out how to raise my game like everyone else seems to be doing.

Any tips?

its deffo getting more competative and serious out on track now LOL.....Donny is going to be a test of mental strenght to find that will-power to lift the game once again to a higher level.........

tips..! if you have any share them with the rest of us......Geoff ! Clint ! maybe those guys could give us all a few race tips...;)

Phil

[Edited on 29-6-2005 by fil2]

only done the 3 races due to missing the castle coombe meeting but going pretty much how i hoped. i knew i wouldnt be "quick out of the blocks" and would take a while to find my feet. still way of the pace of the front runners but the gap is closing. i know i can beat some of those placing above me and i know i have plenty more improvement in me so am very confident about the "2nd" half of the season. in reality the remaining 2/3 rds of it for me.

to be honest havnt found it too much of a step up from trackdays, sure its faster and closer but its not as big a step as some were making it out to be. ok i havnt been at the sharp end yet but cant see it being too different to some of the mid pack tussels.

aims: to continue to close the gap to the leaders and get in the top 10. if i dont make it at donington, then i'll try for brands.

really looking forward to donington, thought havnt been there yet. looks fast and flowing and will suit me better than mickey mouse places like cadwell woodland.

loving every minute of it and glad to be part of a great competitive series.

:D:D:D

The series has delivered miles more than I originally thought. My understanding of various parts of the bike has increased greatly, but I still feel there's not enough focus on suspension. The original idea was the lack of power would divert peoples attention to the other areas of the bike, but I can't help feel that the majority (me included) have fitted the best kit they could and left this area alone. Maybe some pre-race workshops with a specialist could be arranged or an evening with a race mechanic. Can't help but feel that we could all be quicker with a bike that inspires more confidence.

As for goals.... Never been to Donny and only done one TD at Brands so I'll be genuinely happy with top 8 at both if it's dry. Cadwell long could be wet & wild so a top 35 would be good! If I keep it upright.....

Ali

:lol: I can assure you it's bloody manic from where I'm standing!:lol:

Snet & CC weren't that bad, but Cadwell was madness. The amount of times I nearly t-boned other riders doesn't bear thinking about....

[Edited on 29-6-2005 by ali]

you really should sort that out mate ....

at least you only "nearly did" unlike some!

no would be very happy to see the woodland off the venues for next year. not a 'proper' circuit imho.

[Edited on 29-6-2005 by dickieducati]

You're just jealous of my ranking in the Muppet of the Year tables.....

Don't worry, I have full confidence that you'll defend your title again this year. :frog:

'Sandbagging' springs to mind! :lol:

Never expected much at the start - disappointed I haven't found what I and others know is inside me. Like being in there but just wish I knew why i'm riding like a learner :puzzled:
To have people say 'thats not the Lin I know' is frustrating to say the least let alone what I feel myself.
I will complete the season - hopefully maintain rubber side down - and maybe just maybe at the remaining meetings the rider I can be will return!
I don't mind being last against whats a very competative line up but I do feel annoyed with myself when I know I could do so much better.

I imagine you will do much better at Donny Lin. You've been testing there and from the reports I've heard, you were going quite good.
It must've knocked your confidence a bit with that friday 'incident' too. Just put the meeting behind you and look forward, that's what I've got to do too.

we just need an engine, then we can go forwards too:)

Cheers Nick - I've put some road gear back on today as we've got some time off before Donny. Gonna get some road riding in see if that helps.

Nick don't beat yourself up, try to relax and not think about being beaten. Racing can be won in the head has well as on the track

[Edited on 29-6-2005 by Jon]

Yup, you are now way up there on my "people to beat" target list ;)

But don't feel too special as when the red lights go out there are another 30 odd targets to beat!

It is a whole world of difference from my 3 outings on the 888 last year and a galaxy away from the "after you, sir" world of R1/Gixer1000/999 etc-filled trackdays.
Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy trackdays but the frustration of being passed down the straights, only to be held up in the corners was why I started racing last year.

Just wait until I get competitive :lol:

Paul

I need to practice. I need to practice. I need to practice. I need to practice. I need to practice. I need to practice. I need to practice. I need to practice.

And then I need to practice.

The day I said I was going to enter DD series, my riders profile was:
- 3 trackdays in France.
- 25ooo km with my 600 Monster. Period.

I never had any other bike (except some little stuff when I was young).

And now after 3 meetings, I don't think to have more experience than before.

It's clear I didn't expect to be so slow. I would like to be able to ride the 620 every single day to discover the bike, but I can't. I bought a race bike because it was cheaper, and now I can't use it because trackdays are too expensive.

I no longer have any goal for this year. Except not breaking the bike. But I'll be in the series next year, and I really hope the tracks to be almost the same for next year :D

Finally I'm very disappointed by myself, but I'll keep fighting on the track as I can. And I promised myself not to leave this country without having won one single DD round... ... ...

Maybe I should try to get the British nationality now :lol::lol::lol::lol:

The series has proved many things to me, but the main ones are;

- its far more competitive than I had envisaged
- I need to signficantly raise my game in order to meet my objectives
- preparation is everything
- its become far more involving than I expected
- its a great headrush!!!
- its nothing like trackdays

My initial thoughts on entering the series was to get a competitive bike (620) and then do only the minimal requirements to it to get it through ACU scrutineering and go race at the front!!!

So now I find myself in mid-table obscurity realising that both I and the Monnie need to get a lot better.

For the Monnie - I'm looking at swapping the standard suspension out, sorting the forks, fitting a power commander and an oil cooler at least. Maybe throw in some Dyno time to get a custom map etc, etc.....

And for me I'm off to bike school again and booking lots of trackdays to practice the art. I've also prepared badly for the initial races, left too much to chance and been too casual with my approach.

My form started poorly and has showed promise of late, but its not nearly enough - so time to re-double my efforts and application.

I've even started planning for next year's efforts, by effectively using the rest of this season as a spring board for next. Perhaps with a KRC entry too.

I've only been to Donny once, but enjoyed the track. Will I be ready by then? Who knows, but I will be more ready!!! - bring it on!!

Tim

You're not slow mate.


Nobody should, except to finish the season if possible. The first year racing is always a learning year and you can not expect to do anything!


BRILLIANT!!!!! Good news Tonio :D


How long were you staying for? :lol:

:D

Well, ahem, I wanted to blitz everyone and be brilliant :lol:

How wrong was I!!!!

I didn't count on riders of Geoff & Clint's talent entering it, but I'd like to think that once we get a competitive engine, I'll be right up there with them.

It's really competitive all the way through the field, and I've been really impressed by the standard of riding.

My goals are the same, and that's to win races. I think we'll be in with a decent chance this year, just a little later than we thought.

It's been frustrating for me and Louigi, but I think I am improving and finding my form at the same rate as we improve the bike, so there will come a point where I'm right on it and the bike is flying too.

I didn't think it would be so much work to learn how to race again, and riding the Ducati is like nothing I've ridden before, but luckily for me I have a good mentor and it's helping heaps.

In the beginning I was mega rusty and forgetting to do all sorts of things (like braking) but I found myself doing things without having to remind myself at Snett, so it's slowly coming back to me, and I can concentrate more on where I am and whats around me than reminding myself to push on a peg or a bar etc. (or open the throttle)

I'm still nowhere near the limit of the bikes handling (which is perfect) so lots more to come there.

Just another 10bhp needed and we won't be far off - way hey!!!

:D:D:D

[Edited on 29-6-2005 by domskidue]

You don't know how slow I am, you never look behind you :lol:
Yes I am slow. But the good news is, it easier to improve. I swear I wouldn't like to be as fast as Geoff... What can you improve then ??? :lol: :lol:


8 months.
Now 2 years.
And after 2 years we'll see...